ABC of antenatal care, Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy--I.

Abstract

? Septic abortion ? Therapeutic abortion Bleeding drives patients to their general practitioner swiftly. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy makes the woman think that she may be miscarrying, so this brings her even more promptly; the practitioner thence has the opportunity to diagnose the cause and start prompt management. Bleeding has four known causes in early pregnancy (box). In addition, bleeding occurs for no apparent reason in a large number of cases. In early pregnancy such cases are commonly categorised as threatened miscarriage, but this is fudging the issue for in many cases the conceptus and its future placental system are not involved; doctors should be honest and say that they do not know the cause.